There is a lot of information thrown at readers of this story. For anyone who is less than familiar with Avatar: The Last Airbender or Avatar: The Legend of Korra, I am providing some quick info on various characters, nations and organizations that I mention. It will be updated as I go along. For information on events that took place during the TV show or comics, I will provide a basic summary after I am done with Avatar: Shadow Factions. Until then, feel free to watch the show or visit the Avatar Wiki website to find out more if you are curious!

Bold writing indicates one of the Four Nations- Water, Earth, Fire and Air- or the Fifth Nation, the United Republic. Underlined sections indicate individual factions, locations or organizations associated with one of those nations. *Indicate characters, ^ indicates characters I created specifically for Avatar: Shadow Factions.


Fire Nation: The second- largest and second most populous of the Four Nations, and the first Nation to experience an industrial revolution. It comprises a small, highly volcanic continent and a large extending archipelago, to the west of the main landmass. The Fire Nation is an absolute monarchy, ruled by the Fire Lord (called "lord" regardless of gender) from the Capital, although the Sun Warriors govern themselves independently. Most of the bending population bend fire, either from available sources or drawn directly from the heat of the sun; rare sub-abilities include Lightning generation and Combustionbending. Firebending is weakened during night hours and the winter, while strengthened during daylight hours and the summer. A solar eclipse temporarily removes a Firebenders' powers.

Fire Nation Capital: the largest city in the Fire Nation, a fortified city-state housed partly within a massive volcanic caldera. The Fire Lord rules the nation directly from this location.

*Zuko: Son of Ozai and Ursa, older brother of Azula, husband of Mai, father of Izumi. Great-grandson of Roku, the previous Avatar. Former Crown Prince of the Fire Nation (exiled), currently Fire Lord. Firebender, swordmaster. Close friends with Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph.

*Azula: Daughter of Ozai and Ursa, younger sister of Zuko. Great-granddaughter of Roku, the previous Avatar. Former Crown Princess of the Fire Nation and briefly Fire Lord. Firebender, capable of lightning generation. Suffered a mental breakdown at the end of the Hundred Year War, and subsequently escaped into exile.

*Izumi: Daughter of Zuko and Mai, Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. Firebender.

*Kiyi: Zuko and Azula's younger half-sister, daughter of Ursa and Ikem, aunt of Izumi. Firebender.

*Mai: Wife of Zuko and mother of Izumi, Fire Lady and co-Regent of the Fire Nation. Nonbender, skilled with shuriken, sai and darts. Childhood friend of Ty Lee and Azula.

*Ozai: Former husband of Ursa (annulled), father of Zuko and Azula, grandfather of Izumi. Former Fire Lord, briefly claimed the title of "Phoenix King", self-declared ruler of the world. Former Firebender, capable of lightning generation. Stripped of his bending by Aang and imprisoned after the Hundred Year War.

*Iroh: Older brother of Ozai, uncle of Zuko and Azula, father of Lu Ten (deceased), grand-uncle of Izumi. Formerly both Crown Prince of the Fire Nation and Grand Lotus of the Order of the White Lotus. Firebender, capable of lightning generation. Also owner of the Jade Dragon, a tea-shop in Ba Sing Se.

*Ursa: Mother of Zuko, Azula and Kiyi, wife of Ikem and grandmother of Izumi; formerly wife of Ozai (annulled); former Princess of the Fire Nation by marriage. Granddaughter of Roku, the previous Avatar. Nonbender, Noh actress and herbalist.

*Ikem: Husband of Ursa, father of Kiyi, stepfather to Zuko and Azula. Nonbender, Noh actor.

*Tomoru: Younger brother of Mai, uncle of Izumi. Nonbender, Fire Nation Minister of Intelligence.

*Jee: Admiral in the Fire Navy. Firebender.

*^Nishi: General in the Fire Army. Firebender.

*^Tianze: General in the Fire Army. Firebender.

*^Atsuro: Commander of the Fire Nation Air Fleet. Nonbender.

*On Ji: Commander of the Fire Nation Home Guard. Firebender.

*Ukano: Father of Mai and Tomoru, grandfather of Izumi. Nobleman and wartime governor in the Fire Nation's former colonies; former friend of Takeo. Former leader of the illegal "New Ozai Society." Imprisoned for his role in the Kemurikage uprising against Zuko, two decades ago.

*Roku: the Avatar preceding Aang, a Fire Nation nobleman. Grandfather of Ursa, maternal great-grandfather of Zuko and Azula. Former close friend of Fire Lord Sozin. Firebender, Airbender, Waterbender and Earthbender. Deceased.

*Sozin: Previous Fire Lord who began the Hundred Year War and destroyed the Air Nomads. Grandfather of Ozai and Iroh, paternal great-grandfather of Zuko and Azula; former close friend of Avatar Roku. Firebender. Deceased.

*Azulon: Previous Fire Lord who continued the Hundred Year War and ordered genocide against the Southern Water Tribe's Waterbenders. Son of Sozin, father of Ozai and Iroh, grandfather of Zuko and Azula. Firebender. Deceased.

*Yon Rha: Former commander of the Southern Raiders, a division of the Fire Navy that committed genocide against the Southern Water Tribe during Azulon's reign. Responsible for the death of Sokka and Katara's mother; later imprisoned as a war criminal. Firebender. Deceased.

Kiyoshi Warriors: a company of nonbending, all-female warriors from Kiyoshi Island, a semi-independent state on the south coast of the Earth Kingdom. They are currently in the service of the Fire Lord in an attempt to broker a stronger peace between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom.

*Suki: Grandmaster of the Kiyoshi Warriors, originally from Kiyoshi Island. Nonbender, swordmaster and martial artist. Ex-fiance of Sokka.

*Ty Lee: Childhood friend of Mai and Azula, originally from the Fire Nation, now second-in-command of the Kiyoshi Warriors. Nonbender, ex-circus acrobat and martial artist, specializing in chi-blocking.

*^Jeonsa: A recent addition to the Kiyoshi Warriors, and apprentice of Ty Lee. Originally from the western Earth Kingdom. Nonbender

*Kiyoshi: the Avatar preceding Avatar Roku, originally from the southern Earth Kingdom until she created Kiyoshi Island. Founder of both the Kiyoshi Warriors and the Dai Li. Earthbender, Firebender, Airbender and Waterbender. Deceased.

Omori Mutineers: A large group of ex-Fire Army soldiers and members of the illegal "New Ozai Society" who have mutinied against Zuko's rule. Based in Omori, a Fire Nation fortress in the Western Air Nomad lands.

*^Takeo: Father of Shingen. Former General of the Fire Army, commander of Fort Omori. Regarded as a war criminal by the other Nations. Firebender.

*^Shingen: Son of Takeo. Former Colonel of the Fire Army, stripped of his rank for joining his father's mutiny. Firebender.

*^Rila: Daughter of "Combustion Man" (deceased), renowned Combustionbender and assassin. Firebender, capable of Combustionbending. Joined Takeo's mutiny due to blaming Zuko for her father's death.

*^Tomoe: Exiled noblewoman and leader of the illegal "New Ozai Society." Firebender.

Sun Warriors: A separate society who became the first Firebenders through an alliance with the dragons, they continue to protect the last two dragons at their hidden city of Phleung Woat, on an island at the end of the Fire Nation archipelago.

*^Soma: Current chief of the Sun Warriors, daugter of Jayavar. Firebender.

*Jayavar: High Priest of the Sun Warriors, former chief, father of Soma. Firebender.

*Ran and Shaw: the last two known dragons.


United Republic: A "fifth" nation created after the Hundred Year War out of former Fire Nation colonies, on the north-west peninsula and coastal lands of the Earth Kingdom. Inhabited largely by ethnic Fire Nationals and Earth Citizens, in addition to immigrants from the Water Tribes, Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. Governed from the Capital of Republic City by a council of elected international representatives.

Air Temple Island: An island just off the coast of Republic City, housing a newly-built Air Temple. Inhabited by Aang, his family and the Air Acolytes, a monastic group of Nonbenders dedicated to learning and preserving the culture of the extinct Airbenders.

*Aang: The current Avatar, formerly from the Southern Air Temple; member of the United Republic Council, representing the Air Nomads. Husband of Katara, father of Bumi, Kya and Tenzin. Close friend of Zuko, Toph and Sokka. Airbender, Waterbender, Earthbender and Firebender.

*Katara: Formerly from the Southern Water Tribe; runs an extensive healing clinic in Republic City. Wife of Aang, mother of Bumi, Kya and Tenzin; younger sister of Sokka. Close friend of Toph and Zuko. Waterbender, capable of Healing and Bloodbending.

*Bumi: Son of Katara and Aang, older brother of Kya and Tenzin. Nonbender.

*Kya: Daughter of Katara and Aang, sister of Bumi and Tenzin. Waterbender.

*Tenzin: Infant son of Katara and Aang.

*Momo: Aang's pet flying lemur.

Republic City: the capital of the United Republic, one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world.

*Toph Beifong: Originally a noblewoman from the Earth Kingdom town of Gaoling, now Chief of police for Republic City and founder of the Beifong Metalbending Academy. Close friend of Aang, Katara, Zuko and Sokka; mother of Lin. Earthbender, capable of Metalbending.

*Lin Beifong: Infant daughter of Toph and Kanto.

*Ho Tun: A police officer in Republic City, and one of Toph's proteges from the Beifong Metalbending Academy. Earthbender, capable of Metalbending.

*Hei'an (also known as "The Dark One"): Deputy Chief of Police in Republic City, and one of Toph's proteges. Earthbender, capable of Metalbending. Poet.

*Penga: A police officer in Republic City, and one of Toph's proteges. Earthbender, capable of metalbending.

*^Tanken: Member of the United Republic Council, representing the Fire Nation. Nonbender.

*^Yaou: Member of the United Republic Council, representing the Earth Kingdom. Earthbender.

*^Kivi: Member of the United Republic Council, representing the Northern Water Tribe. Waterbender.

*^Oyuki: Member of the United Republic Council, representing the Southern Water Tribe. Waterbender.

*Satoru: Shareholder in Earthen Fire industries, originally from the Fire Nation. Nonbender, engineer and inventor. Former lover of Toph.

The Triads: various organized crime factions, usually made up exclusively of benders, that plague many towns of the United Republic.

*^Shinzo: soldier for the Triple Threat Triad. Firebender.

*Yakone: Up-and-coming gang leader in the Triple Threat Triad, formerly from the Northern Water Tribe. Waterbender, capable of Bloodbending without the full moon.

*Zolt: soldier for the Triple Threat Triad. Firebender, capable of lightning generation.


Earth Kingdom: By far the largest of the four nations, encompassing most of the main landmass. It has the largest ethnic diversity and population of any of the nations, although its' industrial and technological growth is slower than the Fire Nation or the United Republic. It is ruled by an Earth Monarch from Ba Sing Se, but many of the larger city-states and societies largely operate independent and keep their own governments, making it more of a hereditary confederation. Most of the bending population bend earth, rock or minerals; rare sub-abilities include Metalbending and Lavabending. Earthbenders are strongest during the spring, while weakest during the autumn.

*Teo: Son of "the Mechanist"; a paraplegic inventor and engineer. Nonbender. Friend of Sokka.

*Lao Beifong: Shareholder in Earthen Fire industries, inhabiting the town of Gaoling. Father of Toph Beifong, grandfather of Lin Beifong. Nonbender, nobleman.

Ba Sing Se: The largest city-state on earth, its' walls encircling a huge agrarian zone and dividing society by class. The only part of the Earth Kingdom that the Earth Monarch has absolute control over, although he/she historically rules through a "Grand Secretariat", or first minister.

*Kuei: Current Earth Monarch, supreme ruler of Ba Sing Se. Nonbender. Father of Hou-Ting.

*Hou-Ting: Daughter of Kuei. Crown Princess of the Earth Kingdom. Nonbender.

*^Liu Tao: Older sister of Yiwu. Earthbender, former construction worker.

*^Liu Yiwu: Younger brother of Tao. Nonbender

*Jin: Innkeeper in the Lower Ring. Nonbender.

*Zaheer: Orphaned peasant child and expert pickpocket/information gatherer. Nonbender.

Omashu: the second-largest city-state of the Earth Kingdom, a semi-independent vassal of the Earth Monarch. Located on the south-west part of the main landmass, encircled by a dense mountain range. Ruled by an elected monarch.

*^Ariq: Recently elected King of Omashu. Earthbender.

*Bumi: Elected King of Omashu during most of the Hundred Year War, and Grand Lotus of the Order of the White Lotus. Close friend of Aang. Earthbender. Deceased.

Dai Li: the former elite Earthbending police of Ba Sing Se, devoted to ensuring order and control at any cost. Betrayed King Kuei by helping Azula capture Ba Sing Se during the Hundred Year War; declared criminals by Kuei after his restoration, resulting in the Dai Li going into hiding at an unknown location.

*Long Feng: Former Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, leader of the Dai Li. Earthbender. Imprisoned by Azula after the fall of Ba Sing Se; later released by the Dai Li during its' liberation, leading them into exile.

*^Xi: a captain of the Dai Li. Earthbender, capable of Lavabending.

*^Genpei: A lieutenant of the Dai Li, recruited by Xi after the fall of Ba Sing Se. Postwar, served as a policeman in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se, while secretly feeding information to Long Feng. Earthbender.

*Joo Dee: The alias of various female sleeper agents who have been "reeducated"; often act as messengers for the Dai Li.


Water Tribes: The Water Tribes encompass the small continents located at the North and South Poles and a jungle-and-marsh infested region in the southern part of the main landmass; the three societies are divided into the Northern, Southern and Foggy Swamp Water Tribes. Although the Chief of the Northern Water Tribe rules all three in theory, each largely rules itself; the Southern Water Tribe has an elected chief, while the North and Foggy Swamp Tribes have more hereditary leaders. Most of the bending population bend water, including ice, steam/fog, and water inside sweat and plant-life; rare sub-abilities include Healing and Bloodbending. Waterbenders are at their strongest during the night hours and the winter (or during the full moon) and are at their weakest during the daylight hours and the summer (or during the new moon). A lunar eclipse temporarily removes a Waterbender's powers.

*Sokka: Diplomat for the Southern Water Tribe; popular candidate for chieftainship of the Tribe. Son of Hakoda, brother of Katara, uncle of Bumi, Kya and Tenzin; close friend of Toph, Aang and Zuko, ex-fiancee of Suki. Nonbender, sword master and engineer.

*Hakoda: Elected Chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe and General during the Hundred Year War. Husband of Kya, father of Sokka and Katara; grandfather of Bumi, Kya and Tenzin. Nonbender, spear-fighter.

*Hama: A member of the Southern Water Tribe, taken prisoner by the Fire Nation during the Hundred Year War. Eventually escaped using self-taught Bloodbending; used it to terrorize several towns before being recaptured by Katara. Waterbender, capable of Bloodbending. Deceased.


Air Nomads: The least populous of the Four Nations. The Air Nomads established four monastic communities centered around the Air Temples: three in various remote archipelagos, and one in the mountains on the northernmost part of the main landmass. With the exception of Avatar Aang, all known Air Nomads perished during a surprise attack by the Fire Nation near the beginning of the Hundred Year War. All the Air Nomads were benders due to their higher connection with the Spirit World, capable of bending air; rare sub-abilities include Astral projection, teleportation across the Spirit World, and unassisted flight (the last one thought merely a myth). Airbenders were strongest during the autumn, and weakest during the spring.

*Avatar Yangchen: The Avatar proceeding Avatar Kuruk, originally from the Western Air Temple. Airbender, Waterbender, Earthbender and Firebender. Deceased.


Order of the White Lotus: An international order dedicated to preserving balance, made up of benders, warriors and intellectuals from various nations. They have largely answered only to the Avatar since intervening on Aang's side at the end of the Hundred Year War, with most of them sent to defend Ba Sing Se.

*Xai Bau: Member of the White Lotus, former mentor to Kaho. Nonbender, master of various martial arts.

*^Sungwoo: Grand Lotus of the White Lotus. Earthbender and proffessor at Ba Sing Se University.

*^Kaho: Member of the White Lotus, former apprentice of Xai Bau. Firebender; deceased.

*^Nakken: Member of the White Lotus. Waterbender.

*Pian Dao: Grand Lotus of the White Lotus, originally from the Fire Nation. Nonbender, sword master.


The Spirit World: a separate dimension, inhabited by supernatural entities and certain humans who have left the mortal world or passed on; it can only be entered directly by portals at the North and South Poles, both of which are currently sealed. The Avatar, and other spiritually aligned humans, can project their astral forms into the spirit world temporarily through meditation, but at certain times of the year, spirits are also able to cross back into the mortal world. Time moves differently in the Spirit World than in the mortal world.

*Guru Pathik: a once-mortal philosopher and mentor to Avatar Aang, now possessing the power to glimpse visions of the future. Nonbender.

*^Maoyan: a kitsune (fox-spirit).

*Wan: the original Avatar, inhabiting the Spirit World after his death. Firebender, Airbender, Waterbender and Earthbender.

*Wan Shi Tong: A demonic owl spirit who collects knowledge. Resided in the mortal world and shared his library with humanity until becoming tired of them abusing it, after which he dragged it back to the Spirit World.

*Zhao: Former Admiral of the Fire Navy, responsible for the Siege of the North Pole and for killing the mortal form of the Moon Spirit during Ozai's reign. Firebender. Driven insane and currently trapped in the Spirit World.